A 36-year-old male refugee from Central America presented with a two-week history of fever, chills, and headache, initially diagnosed with malaria. His condition worsened with persistent fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Blood cultures revealed Gram-negative rods, later identified as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, confirming typhoid fever. The patient was successfully treated with ceftriaxone. This case highlights the importance of considering typhoid fever in febrile patients with travel history to endemic regions, even when initial tests suggest other common infections like malaria, and the need for comprehensive diagnostic workup.
Key note: Typhoid fever should be considered in febrile travelers from endemic areas, especially when initial diagnoses are inconclusive.